2013 Albania Teaching Team

Traveling From: 5/20/2013 to 6/7/2013; Team Cost: $1000*

Earn credit hours while immersed in the daily renewal of faith in Albania. Witness the resurrection of the Orthodox Church after decades of persecution and study Orthodox Christian missiology. Under the supervision of Fr. Luke Veronis, adjunct professor of Holy Cross Orthodox Seminary in Brookline, MA, this class trip will visit the Holy Resurrection of Christ Seminary and other ministries of the Church. Participation is limited to Orthodox seminarians.

Experience the renewal of faith in Albania and resurrection of the Church after decades of persecution. Twenty years have passed since the collapse of Communism in Albania and the Church continues to be a witness of the peace and salvation that comes from knowing Christ. Visit and serve the ministries of the Church in Albania, and be a witness of the Faith in a country that is over 60% Muslim.

Course Description

The Missiology of Archbishop Anastasios (Yannoulatos) of Albania and Practical Evangelism in Albania will be a 3 credit class. The course will study in depth the life, missiology and writings of Archbishop Anastasios of Albania and examine how he has practically lived out this missiology through his ministry in the Church of Albania. The course will look at the foundation and calling of missions, study the resurrection of the Church of Albania over the past 20 years, examining, and analyze how the church has succeeded in living out the missiology of the Archbishop and where the church has not yet lived up to this missiology.

Mission practicum: Visit Albania and see the Resurrection of the Church; see the variety of ministries of this mission; meet with Archbishop Anastasios and co-workers to better understand mission, including missionaries and the indigenous Church leaders; have several classes about missiology and the mission in Albania, led by Archbishop Anastasios and other key figures in Albania; visit the Home of Hope; offer seminar/classes at the Academy at Shen Vlash; visit Korca; participate in some type of ministry - evangelism at Student City in Tirana, possibly a pilgrimage with students, possibly a seminar with the clergy.

Course Requirements

In-class time (includes pre-trip classes (May 20-24), classes while in Albania, and follow-up class upon return to the States)

Mission practicum (May 25 - June 7)

Response papers on the required readings

Reflection while in the field

Final Paper

Students will contribute a portion of the fees; the Mission Institute of Orthodox Christianity will subsidize the remaining portion of the practicum. The class size will include no more than 12 Orthodox seminary students and participation is limited to Orthodox seminarians only.

Contact OCMC or the Mission Institute of Orthodox Christianity for registration information.

God of truth and love: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Hear our prayer for those who do not know You. That they may come to a saving knowledge of the truth, and that Your Name may be praised among all peoples of the world. Sustain, inspire, and enlighten Your servants who bring them the Gospel. Bring fresh vigor to wavering faith; sustain our faith when it is still fragile. Continually renew missionary zeal in ourselves and in the Church, and raise up new missionaries who will follow You to the ends of the world. Make us witnesses to Your goodness full of love, full of strength, and full of faith for Your glory and the salvation of the entire world. Through the prayers of all the missionary saints, Have mercy on us and save us. Amen.